Farm System Rankings: #20 Kansas City Royals

From 2001 until 2011, the Kansas City Royal had 78 of the 164 players examined (47.56%) play at least one game at the Major League level. The Royals saw 67 players (85.90%) play for them while the other 11 spent time with one of the other thirty MLB clubs.

2001-2011 Royals Farm System Rank

At The Helm

General Manager Dayton Moore

The Royals had two General Managers (Allard Baird 2001-2006, Dayton Moore 2007-2011), four Farm Directors (Bob Hegman 2001-2002, Muzzy Jackson 2003, Shaun McGinn 2004-2006, J.J. Picollo 2007-2011), and three Scouting Directors (Deric Ladnier 2001-2008, J.J. Picollo 2009-2010, Lonnie Goldberg 2011) over the eleven year time period examined.

Five Hits

1.      Billy Butler, 1B: The 25 year old has spent five seasons in the majors with the Royals. His career batting average is .299 with 71 HR and 353 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (15^th overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

2.      Alex Gordon, OF: The 27 year old has spent five seasons in the majors with the Royals. His career batting average is .257 with 62 HR and 229 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (2^nd overall) of the 2005 amateur draft.

3.      Aaron Crow, RHP: The 24 year old is in his first season in the majors. His career record is 3-3 with a 2.41 ERA. A member of the 2011 American League All-Star team. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (12^th overall) of the 2009 amateur draft.

4.      Eric Hosmer, 1B: The 21 year old is in his first season in the majors. His career batting average is .273 with 12 HR and 55 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (3^rd overall) of the 2008 amateur draft.

5.      Mike Moustakas, 3B: The 22 year old is in his first season in the majors. His career batting average is .227 with 1 HR and 15 RBI. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (2^nd overall) of the 2007 amateur draft.

Five Misses

1.    Colt Griffin, RHP: The 28 year old spent five seasons pitching in the minors where he compiled a record of 19-25 with a 4.79 ERA. He was the first high school pitcher documented to throw 100 MPH. Retired prior to the 2006 season after failing to comeback from shoulder surgery. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (9^th overall) of the 2001 amateur draft.

2.    Mike Stodolka, LHP: The 29 year old spent nine seasons in the minors as a pitcher and first baseman. His career record is 20-39 with a 4.93 ERA. His career batting average is .287 with 28 HR and 147 RBI. Had shoulder problems and Tommy John surgery in 2003. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (4^th overall) of the 2000 amateur draft.

3.    Chris Lubanski, OF: The 26 year old has spent nine seasons in the minors where his career batting average is .279 with 109 HR and 470 RBI. Currently playing for Double-A Reading (Eastern) in the Phillies organization, hitting .213 with 1 HR and 5 RBI on the season. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (5^th overall) of the 2003 amateur draft.

4.    Roscoe Crosby, OF: The 28 year old never played in a minor league game after signing for $1.75 million. Played wide receiver at Clemson (NCAA). He had Tommy John surgery in 2002. Drafted by the Royals in the 2^nd round of the 2001 amateur draft.

5.    Matt Campbell, LHP: The 28 year old spent three seasons in the minors where his career record was 6-9 with a 4.63 ERA. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (29^th overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

Five Current Major Leaguers on Other Teams

1.    Zach Greinke, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers: The 27 year old has spent eight seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Brewers. The 2009 American League Cy Young award winner has a career record of 72-72 with a 3.86 ERA. A member of the 2009 American League All-Star team. Traded by the Royals to the Brewers in December 2010 in a seven-player trade. Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (6^th overall) of the 2002 amateur draft.

2.    David DeJesus, OF, Oakland Athletics: The 31 year old has spent nine seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Athletics. His career batting average is .284 with 69 HR and 429 RBI. Traded by the Royals to the Athletics in November 2010 in exchange for Justin Marks (LHP) and Vin Mazzaro (RHP). Drafted by Royals in the 4^th round of the 2000 amateur draft.

3.    J.P. Howell, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays: The 28 year old has spent six seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Rays. His career record is 20-22 with a 4.64 ERA and 21 saves. Traded by the Royals to the Rays in June 2006 in exchange for Fernando Cortez (2B) and Joey Gathright (OF). Drafted by the Royals in the supplemental 1^st round (31^st overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

4.    Mike MacDougal, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers: The 34 year old has spent eleven seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals, White Sox, Nationals, Cardinals, and Dodgers. His career record is 15-23 with a 4.00 ERA and 71 saves. A member of the 2003 American League All-Star game. Traded by the Royals to the White Sox in July 2006 in exchange for Tyler Lumsden (LHP) and Dan Cortes (RHP). Drafted by the Royals in the 1^st round (25^th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft.

5.    Mike Aviles, SS, Boston Red Sox: The 30 year old has spent four seasons in the majors as a member of the Royals and Red Sox. His career batting average is .286 with 24 HR and 123 RBI. Traded by the Royals to the Red Sox in July 2011 in exchange for Kendal Volz (RHP) and Yamaico Navarro (SS). Drafted by the Royals in the 7^th round of the 2003 amateur draft.

Fun Fact

General Manager Drayton Moore began his career as a scout with the Atlanta Braves in 1994, eventually advancing to the position of Assistant General Manager in 2005. He became the Royals General Manager in June 2006.